*Leroy POV*
The Luna red moon is over, the pull between Cali and I is not longer as strong. The Epsilon says we are meant to feel nothing for each other, but that has never been us. I have always loved her before I even knew that she was my future. My heart rejoices when I am around her. My soul and my wolf are at peace. She is disappointed that our marks are gone, but I am distraught and angry. I am livid by the time the Epsilon informs me that Cali will conceive and I will have no part in my child’s life until she and I are permanent mates. 
“Like hell am I letting that happen!” I roar, fighting the urge to tear down everything around me. 
“Some things are out of our control, some are within. Still, every decision has consequences. A second chance mate is around the corner and…”
“I don’t want another mate. I only want her!” 
I don’t mean to yell at the Epsilon, but he is frustrating me with his usual riddles. 
“Dad fucked up, many parents do, why am I paying such a heavy price?”
“You have been favoured with a powerful mate. To whom great honour is bestowed, great sacrifices are expected,” the old man states. 
“I have made a lot of stupid decisions when it comes to Cali, not anymore,” I declare and he just stares at me. 
“Say something!”
He lets out a laboured sigh. “You are declaring war with ultimate authority.”
“If that’s what it takes to stay with my mate, then yes,” I say. I have made up my mind that I will rebel against anything and anyone to be with Cali. There is no way in hell that I am ever staying away from her. There is also no way in hell that my child will be born and grow up without me. Come hail or high waters, Cali is the only mate I will have from today going forward. 
She is surprised when I mark her. I guess she had accepted this stupidity. It’s clear to me when she nurses my boy that this woman is my life. I am never putting her through watching me with another woman no matter what the mate bond says. 
We are descending the stairs when Sky stirs and her infatuating scent fills my nostrils. 
“Mate! Mate!” Sky cries out while I use all my energy to suppress him.  
“Your mate is here?”
Cali’s surprised and masked dejected tone tells me that whatever I do today will either win her heart and trust forever or I will lose her forever. 
I shake my head. “You are the only mate I recognise.”
It’s taking everything in me to utter those simple words. I am drenched in sweat by the time we reach the ground floor and the last person I ever expected to see again runs into my arms. It’s been over five years, but she is exactly how I remember her. Beautiful and graceful, Sky is yelping mate non stop. 
The rest of the guests bow respectfully to greet while I stand with Zenith in my arms, dumbfounded. 
“Welcome to the Golden castle, Luna May, Alpha Duncan and welcome to your convoy,” Cali greets with a warm smile that snaps me out of my shock. I can’t be her mate and have another woman clinging to me like this. 
I gentle push away Zenith, but she resists and clings to me tightly. Any other woman, this would be easy, but it had to be Zenith. I am really being tested. 
“I, Alpha Leroy of the Ruber city pack, reject you Zenith as my mate,” I utter the words while Sky roars inside me. Everyone looks at me with widened expression, except Cali. I can’t read her expression. This must be embarrassing to her. 
My heart breaks when Zenith drops on her knees and holds her probably painful chest. She is the first woman I ever loved. It took me years to accept that she was gone, only to be reunited like this. Her tears flood down her cheeks, pulling at my heart strings and making Sky fight me harder. 
“Leroy, it’s me. We vowed to loved each other forever,” she murmurs with a shaky voice. 
“I am sorry, Zenith. I looked everywhere for you. I thought you were dead. I am glad that you are not, but I have an ultimate mate and I love her. I cannot keep the vows we made to each other,” I explain myself. I owe her that much. 
“Please come this way, I will show you around,” Cali says to the rest of the curious guests and leads them away.I can’t imagine how she feels right now. She is the ultimate queen, with a mate she can’t claim. 
“Leroy, I know that you feel guilty about what your father did to her pack, but you can’t deny our bond like this. I won’t let you,” Zenith says and frantically shakes her head. “No, I won’t. Not when I survived Diana. Not when I have loved you my whole adult life,” she adds and I am reminded of how stubborn she can be. 
“This is not about my guilt, Zenith. I love Cali.”
She lets out a laugh and objects. 
“No, you love me. You only felt her because of the Luna red moon. Or maybe you are scared of her.”
“Zenith, you are not hearing me. I love her. I did before her Lycan showed up. I did before the Luna red moon and I do now after it. She is the only woman I want,” I say slowly, hoping she gets my every word. I know that I am being an ass for telling her this right now when I am rejecting her, but I have to make her understand. 
Her  shoulders shake before she weeps bitterly and tries to stand. Sky whimpers and fights me. 
“Mate is sad, we have to comfort mate,” he repeatedly cries. He is in so much pain, but I can’t curve in and lose Cali. That is never going to be an option. 
“I am sorry Sky. I have made my choice.”
“I want mate! Only mate!” Sky is now whining like a spoiled brat. I shut him out and focus on Zenith, who is approaching me. She throws herself on me again. I have no choice, but catch her or she will fall and hurt herself. 
“Did you never love me, Leroy?” she ask with teary eyes. 
“I did, you know that,” I say. 
“I love you too, Leroy. Always will,” she says right when Cali and everyone walk in. Shit! I have Zenith in my arms and it now looks like I have just declared my love for her. 
“I guess congratulations are in order,” Cali says with the same tone I can’t quite read. 
“Yes, congratulations! You are all Zenith speaks about. It’s been like that since the day we rescued her in those woods years back,” Luna Mary beams while I shake my head. 
They have misunderstood everything and now Zenith is clinging to me again. Her scent so close is making Sky whine and fight me more. 
“Our dinner will be served in the dining hall in two hour’s time. Please make yourself at home. Our very talented musicians and dancers will be performing in the courtyard until then,” Cali announces before heading back to our chambers. I stare at her as she leaves. I don’t even have the energy to push away Zenith and run after her because I am using everything in me to suppress Sky. I am losing this fight. 
“I am never accepting your rejection.”
I am snapped out of my thoughts by Zenith’s declaration.